Tag: Series

Review: Filthy Forward (Kelsey Cheyenne)

Filthy Forward
Series: Cocky Hero Club
Author: Kelsey Cheyenne
Publication Date: July 19, 2020
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Cocky. Filthy. Player.

Tatum Trevino waltzed into my life like he owned it. The renowned soccer star showed up as my new coach and changed everything.

Until rumors started flying about the bad boy prodigy kicked off his team. I thought he was nothing but another cocky playboy, but there was another side to him under the facade.

Late training sessions, secret getaways, and a delicious sleeve of tattoos led to temptation. We kept our relationship private, but I wasn’t the only secret he was keeping.

And it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

Filthy Forward was not a book on my TBR. It wasn’t even on my radar until I saw Alecia‘s review for it. Her review was so positive and spiked my interest. Since it was on KU and sounded like something I was in the mood for, I gave it a try. It worked out well for me.

This is my first attempt at reading something by Kelsey Cheyenne. I loved the writing style. I was immediately pulled in and connected with the characters. I liked Bria and Tatum. Both got a POV, so it was cool to hear their thoughts about each other. They didn’t like each other at the beginning, so it was fun for them to get to know each other and develop a deep connection. Their fall into love felt natural.

Another thing I really loved was the soccer. Personally, I’m missing soccer in my life right now, so reading about it felt like watching it. I loved that practice, training, and games were involved. It was even cooler that it was Bria who was the main focus of it, even though Tatum was also a soccer star.

Normally, I’m not a fan of romances that have a student-teacher feel. This is one with a player-coach thing going on. I don’t think I would have liked it at all if 1) the player wasn’t an adult in college, 2) the coach was an assistant who wasn’t much older and had only just joined the team, and 3) there wasn’t anything illegal about their relationship. It did still make me cringe a bit at times, but probably because I will never b 100% okay with a relationship in this dynamic. Filthy Forward actually reminded me a bit of R.S. Grey’s Scoring Wilder. If you liked the tone of that book, you would probably like this one.

The only other thing that I have mixed feelings about was the conflict. It involved a lot of miscommunication. If miscommunication or lack of communication bugs you in a romance, this one probably won’t be for you. I could let it go because there were so many things that twisted and combined to caused the issue that I found entertaining.

Oh! And I shouldn’t forget — The “filthy” in the title didn’t exactly fit for me. Tatum actually seemed like a stand up person. I guess maybe it was just catchy or portrayed what his reputation might have been prior to this book. That word might stop some people from reading, so I thought I should mention it.

Overall, this was a great introduction to Kelsey Cheyenne’s writing for me. I would definitely read another book by this author. It was a fun sports romance.

Review: That Swoony Feeling (Meghan Quinn)

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That Swoony Feeling
Series: Getting Lucky, #4
Author: Meghan Quinn
Publication Date: August 6, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the fourth novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and finally finding that swoony feeling.

I’m single . . . so single it’s painful.

Yup, ladies, Brig Knightly–that’s me–is still a lonely bachelor, stumbling through the streets of Port Snow, looking for the girl he’s supposed to end up with.

That is until my brother, Rogan, presents me with the opportunity of a lifetime. The Summer of Love, a secret pen pal program in Port Snow is looking for applicants and I’m the perfect fit.

I couldn’t sign up fast enough.

I found myself quickly falling in love with a pair of red lips at the bottom of a letter. Just like in the movies . . .

Life could not have been better, that was until I started hanging out with Ruth Barber. Starting a new business right next to my shop, I found myself gravitating toward her. Her smile, her humor . . . her tea sandwiches.

My attraction for Ruth came in full force, leaving me dazed, confused, and *ahem* excited.

As new feelings for two women come to a screeching halt, I have to figure out who to choose. But when I discover my pen pal is Ruth, it might be too late.

All I want in life is to experience that swoony feeling . . . but I think I might have just missed my chance.

Did That Swoony Feeling make me swoon? Why yes, it did! This romance was so freaking cute. It was everything I wanted and hoped it would be for Brig.

Brig is an adorable goof with a big heart. If you have read any of the three previous books, you know this. His love of love made me smile. What I didn’t know about him was that he was going to be the most frustrating of the Knightly brothers. There were times he drove me batty — but not in a way that ruined the book. Everything that was frustrating was what made this romance even sweeter in the end.

Ruthie was the perfect match for Brig. I knew a little about her from the previous books, but not enough to get a complete picture. What I learned about her in this book made me love her. She may have been a little shy, but she was a firecracker underneath.

I loved the progression of Ruthie and Brig’s romance. Every step they took getting to know each other added something special. I loved how the Knightly family and town were involved in the story. I don’t even know how to describe what I loved further without giving too much away. That Swoony Feeling was truly a great ending to a fantastic series. It couldn’t have wrapped up in a better way. I’m going to miss this family and town so much!

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PROLOGUE:

**BRIG**

Hands stuffed in my pockets, I look at Reid while nibbling on the corner of my lip. “But—” “Brig, I swear to God,” Reid says, dragging his hand down his face while we make our way past Jackson Square, toward Café Du Monde. “Do not ask about your penis turning green one more goddamn time. We all looked at it. It’s flesh colored. Any signs of green you might have seen was from the shit lighting in the bathroom. Now, drop it.” “Yeah, okay,” I sigh, even though I don’t feel convinced. Something happened last night. Something terrifying. Something that has left me shaking in my shoes—because I don’t wear boots—wanting to rip my pants down repeatedly to make sure things are still intact. Two days ago, I turned twenty-one, and to celebrate the youngest Knightly’s freedom to hold a beer in his hand legally, my three brothers took me to New Orleans to party in style. And we did . . . up until last night, when the depths of hell tried to swallow us all whole. Mom warned us, saying, “Don’t get into any trouble.” My dad slapped the back of our heads before we left and told us to use our brains. Even our sister, the oldest and wisest of the Knightly children, stared us in the eyes and told us not to do anything stupid. And yet, we failed all of them. Have you ever been to New Orleans? Neither had I, but I’d heard great things about the place. Drinking in the streets and peekaboo boobs on every corner. Beignets and rice and beans. Scandalous fun. Sounded like a great time. But after doing extensive research before the trip—I like to plan ahead—the one thing I wanted to avoid, the one thing that made me extremely nervous, was the voodoo magic prevalent on the grimy cobblestone streets. You know what I’m talking about. The dark stuff, the chilling life-altering spells that can change you as a man . . . as a human. *Whispers* Black magic . . . We did a great job avoiding any and all scary things, until last night, when I inadvertently ran smack dab into the palms of evil. Shocking news: I was drunk. I couldn’t tell if I was walking on cobblestone streets last night or lobster rolls—that’s how far gone I was—so when I stumbled over a palm reader’s table and broke it, I wasn’t exactly aware of the severity of my mistake. She roared with displeasure. Her eyes tore through me with veritable hatred that shook me to the tip of my dick. And her gangly fingers rattled while she spoke vehemently. Terrified out of my wits, I held up my palm while my brothers tossed her twenty bucks and asked her to read it. I wish I could remember what she said. The future she spoke of is all a blur at this point. Pretty sure she said something about how incredibly handsome I am and how I outshine my brothers with the curves of my jaw, but I can’t be quite sure. The boys deny that part of the story, but they don’t deny the stark hatred that spit like venom from the petrifying woman’s mouth. My brothers, of course, didn’t make the situation any better by making fun of her predictions. They actually sparked the flame that set the fire. I might be telling this wrong—you know, completely wasted and all—but the moment the palm reader turned an evil shade of hate, I felt every ounce of fun-loving booze seep from the bottom of my feet and out into the streets, sobering me up to the point of understanding. In a whirlwind of vengeful movements, her arms waved about, the wind swirled around us, trash from the streets danced around my jean-covered legs, and the palm reader’s eyes turned yellow—I confirmed that fact with all three brothers this morning. Indeed, her eyes were yellow. And then she said something I will never forget . . . This wretch of a wench cloaked in the devil’s garb took our fate into her own hands and punished us with broken love. Broken. Love. If you know me at all, you’d know that would cut deep to my very being. Then Reid said something about her telling us our dicks were going to fall off or turn green; can’t be sure, because I was stunned. Stunned with the notion that my entire life goal of getting married and becoming a doting husband was quickly stripped from my soul and set into blazing embers, never to be seen again. The miscreant cursed the one thing I strive for as a man . . . that swoony feeling of being wrapped up in a warm, safe relationship with a woman. And I can’t shake it. No matter what my brothers say, no matter how many times they tell me to drop it, I keep worrying. I keep remembering the whirl of evil that was cast upon us. I keep trying to decode the meaning of it all. Are we truly cursed? “There’s a table over there,” Griffin, my oldest brother, says, making a beeline toward the back corner of the incredibly busy beignet-making icon. We came here for their famous beignets when we first arrived and decided to indulge one more time. We catch a flight to Port Snow this afternoon and before we get back to our gossip-loving town, I want to set some things straight. Taking seats, we quickly put in an order for beignets and a café au lait each, and when the waitress leaves, I say, “Can we talk about last night?” Reid groans and slouches in his chair. He’s in a shit mood, and I’m not sure if it’s from the phone call he got last night that he’s not talking about or if it’s because he’s hung over. Maybe a combo of both. “Can we not?” “Aren’t you worried?” I ask, looking around at my brothers. I can’t possibly be the only one who’s concerned here. But it seems like I might be. Griffin is texting. His wife, I’m sure. Rogan is staring at the trifold menu on the table. And Reid is rubbing his eyes with his palms, looking like he wants to be anywhere but here. “Uh, hello? Do you guys not remember what happened last night? The whole alarming witch in a cloak thing, waving her dangly bone fingers at us. Table-breaking, palm-reading curses being flung about like beads off a balcony? Ring a bell?” Griffin sets his phone down and lets out a deep breath. His tone is the even, oldest-brother sensible voice. “We were drunk last night, Brig.” “Yeah, we were, but it doesn’t negate the fact that we all woke up with the same story this morning. She cursed us. You’re telling me none of you are concerned?” I glance around to all three pairs of blue eyes, the same blue eyes I share, and none of them are returning the look. Which tells me they’re not willing to admit they’re just as scared as I am. I poke Rogan in the side. “Hello, are you listening?” “Trying not to,” he says, his fingers pressing to his left eye. “Fuck, my head is pounding.” Rogan is my second oldest brother, the quiet and annoyed one. He’s had a rough go at life and barely cracks a smile anymore. He’s more interested in punishing himself for the decisions he’s made in the past than in parting the dark cloud that hangs over his head so he can experience the world. As a retired football player, if pushed too hard, he’s been known to fight back. I think I’ll pass on leaning on him now. “Griff.” I turn to the reasonable one in the group. “You saw it all, the way she spouted off that little limerick about broken love. She came up with that out of nowhere. It rhymed and everything. Who does that? Who wishes broken love on unsuspecting tourists? Frankly, it’s fucked up.” The waitress drops off our food and drinks. We give her a mumbled thank you before she takes off to serve another table in the busy outdoor seating area. Mouth full of beignet and powdered sugar coating his lips, Griffin says, “If she was half the palm reader she said she was, then she would have known that I was already married and this curse she set upon us was flawed. Yeah, was it strange that there was wind whipping around when she raised her arms—” “The wind was weird,” Rogan says. “Wind freaked me out,” Reid grumbles while bringing his coffee up to his lips. “Now you chime in,” I say with an eye roll. “Can I finish?” Griff asks, sounding annoyed. We all silence ourselves with bites into our beignets. “The wind was a strange coincidence, but I also think she was deranged. There’s no merit to what she said, and I think we would waste time thinking about it anymore than we have. Let’s just enjoy breakfast and then get the hell out of here.” “Agreed,” Rogan says. “Yeah,” Reid murmurs. “But—” They all shoot me a death glare, and I snap my mouth shut. I’m outnumbered, and even if I try to press it, they’re not going to change their minds. They’re chalking this experience up to what seems like a drunken it-was-all-an-illusion-we’ll-soon-forget night. But just a quick glance around the table, and I don’t buy it. Worried brows. Keeping to themselves. Shifty eyes. They’re thinking about it just as much as I am. Listen to me, to the words I have spoken. From this day on, your love will be broken. It isn’t until your minds have matured That the weight of this curse will forever be cured. Might not seem like a big deal, but I have a bad feeling our worlds are about to be flipped upside down. And boy, were our lives flipped. Griffin lost his wife. Rogan’s high school sweetheart re-emerged with a vengeance. Reid’s restaurant, his pride and joy, was stolen from him. And me . . . well, I haven’t been in a relationship since the fateful day when my taut and beautiful ass tumbled over a palm reader’s table. Just bad luck? That everything good, everything we loved was taken away from us? No. It was the curse, but surely things would improve on their own. Wouldn’t they? From this day on, your love will be broken.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

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Connect with Meghan:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor
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Review: One Little Dare (Whitney Barbetti)

One Little Dare
Author: Whitney Barbetti
Publication Date: July 16, 2020
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Truth or dare? I always choose a dare. And no matter the dare, I always follow through.
Even if it means walking down a busy street in my bathrobe and hair curlers.
Or recreating that iconic When Harry Met Sally deli scene while on a crowded subway.
Or hitting on a handsome stranger in a bar.
And then … marrying that stranger. While in Vegas.
But the one thing I’m not supposed to do is fall in love with this man.
That wasn’t part of the dare.
Only my heart never got that memo.

I’m a big fan of this series of standalone romances by Whitney Barbetti. They’re lighter than some of her other books and make me happy to read. Tori’s book is one I’ve been waiting for. She’s always been that wilder, spunky, loyal friend. First it was to Hollis (One Little Lie), and then it was to Keane (One Big Mistake). I was so interested in finding out what lie beneath her outgoing facade.

Tori was all the things I thought she was and more. She hid a lot of hurt that she couldn’t just share with anyone. I loved seeing those things she hid come to light in her relationship with Liam. They met and got to know each other in one of the funnest and also sad ways.

Liam was a character I loved getting to know. I personally connected with some of his character traits than Tori’s. I guess I’m just more like him than her. I understood the reasons he was the way he was. I loved meeting his tight knit group of friends and how he fit within that group.

I love a good “married in Vegas” romance, and this one was memorable for so many reason. I actually believed in the instant-love relationship that developed.

Review: Hate the Player (Max Monroe)

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Hate the Player
Author: Max Monroe
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

“Roses are red, violets are blue, stay away from Andrew Watson’s *ahem* because no other women ever do.”

That’s quite the way to start a conversation at a casual lunch, huh? Grilled chicken, French fries, and pelvic-fatigue, oh my!

And that’s not even the worst of it.

My friend Raquel didn’t pull any punches when she warned me about my brand-new costar and his notoriously player-esque ways. Apparently, my most important mission on my first role in a feature film is to stay immune to his charms.

Are you kidding me? Production costs on this movie are in the hundreds of thousands a day, and staying away from a panty-whispering, vajayjay-charmer is supposed to be at the top of my list? Pfft. Puh-lease.

It doesn’t matter that he’s annoyingly attractive, uber rich, crazy famous, and lusted after by ninety percent of the female population; Andrew Watson is trouble with a capital T—especially for a woman like me.

As a preventative measure, I’ve decided to go ahead and hate him.

Don’t worry, you guys, I’m completely in control. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to do something stupid like fall in love with him.

I can hate the player but still secretly love his addictive game.

I’m sure of it.

ADORABLE! HILARIOUS! Hate the Player was everything I was expecting from the duo behind Max Monroe and more. Now I love everything they write, but this one was especially entertaining. There was something about the celebrity trope combined with the enemies to lovers one that made for a great time. Birdie, the confident country music star, was a fish out of water in the acting world. Famous womanizing actor Andrew helping her find her groove was one cute moment after another. Even when they were slinging insults at each other this book was nothing but fun. Their chemistry was off the charts. Add in some cameos from the first couple of books in this series, and it was PERFECTION! Max Monroe’s humor shined so bright. I smiled so hard. This is the stay at home and read romance everyone needs in their lives right now. I already want to do a re-read.

Hate the Player, a slow burn and hilarious romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Max Monroe is available now!

Download your copy today or read for Free on Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2C7tklj
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About Max Monroe

A duo of romance authors team up under the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling pseudonym Max Monroe to bring you sexy, laugh-out-loud reads.

Max Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of more than ten contemporary romance titles. Favorite writing partners and long time friends, Max and Monroe strive to live and write all the fun, sexy swoon so often missing from their Facebook newsfeed. Sarcastic by nature, their two writing souls feel like they’ve found their other half. This is their most favorite adventure thus far.

Connect with Max Monroe

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Website: https://www.authormaxmonroe.com/

Mini Review: Worth It All (Claudia Connor)

Worth It All
Series: The McKinney Brothers, #3
Author: Claudia Connor
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

She’s fighting for control. . . . Paige Roberts learned to fend for herself growing up. Now she’s doing everything possible to give her daughter, Casey, the stability she never had. But when the vivacious five-year-old decides she’s done wearing her prosthesis, Paige faces her toughest challenge yet: trusting a handsome, brooding stranger who simply wants to help.

He’s struggling to connect. . . . JT McKinney lost more than his leg in a car accident that stole his dreams of pro football. Eight years later, he’s made a new life for himself far away from his old one. His business is developing cutting-edge prosthetics and he’s more than happy to turn his attention to machines instead of people. Still, he can’t shake the feeling that something’s missing.

Will they take a chance on love? . . . When JT gets the chance to help Paige’s daughter, he takes it. He never planned on the two of them tearing down his walls or teaching him to believe in himself again. Paige might not believe in happily ever afters, but JT wants more than anything to be her prince. They’ll both have to let go of the past if they want a future.

This was my second favorite book in the series. It was almost as good as that first book. I think what made me love this one and the first one more than the second book was that Claudia Connor writes some of the best children! I adored Casey in this one. She was all fire and cuteness. She really helped make this book that much better for so many reasons. I loved how she bonded with Jake. And Jake… Loved that guy! I was so curious about him after the first couple of books and his story lived up to my expectations. Paige was great, too. I liked how she was determined to give her daughter more than she had. She was a good match for Jake. Overall, this book was a winner.

Mini Review: Worth the Risk (Claudia Connor)

Worth the Risk
Series: McKinney Brothers, #2
Author: Claudia Connor
Publication Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

When a McKinney brother falls in love, powerful emotion and overwhelming desire are never far behind.

Two hearts locked away . . . Hannah Walker spends her days coaching children through injury and trauma, one therapeutic horseback ride at a time. She knows all too well how violence can change a child and leave scars that never heal. It’s easy for her to relate to the kids; what isn’t easy is the thought of facing her own harrowing past.

Millionaire playboy Stephen McKinney could use a little coaching himself. Five years ago he encountered his most horrible nightmare—and the nightmare won. No matter what he achieves, nothing can make up for that awful night . . . or so he believes.

Both desperate for a second chance . . . Stephen is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hannah. So when she turns him down, he’s intrigued. What he doesn’t know is that her secrets will lead him to a place he never wanted to go again . . . to a side of himself he’s tried to forget . . . a side that would scare Hannah away from ever loving him. Now his only chance to win her trust is to bare his soul, risking everything he tried so hard to protect. mega888official

When I started Worth the Risk, I was surprised at how different it felt than Worth the Fall. It was more angsty. I wasn’t sure if I liked how jaded Stephen was at first. I guess I just wanted some more of that sweet feel Matt gave the last book. His attitude and the sweetness did improve as the book went on, which I was glad for. I really liked Hannah. Her strength was a cool thing to experience. I liked how the last part of both Stephen and Hannah healed together as they fell in love. Overall, it was a good romance.

Mini Review: Worth the Fall (Claudia Connor)

Worth the Fall 
Series: McKinney Brothers, #1
Author: Claudia Connor
Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Military

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

This book was so stinking adorable I can barely stand it! I mean, a Navy SEAL goes on vacation and falls in love with a single mom and her brood of four kids. How can you not find that situation adorable? Not just that, but Claudia Connor has the writing chops to take that plot and turn it into magic. I didn’t even mind that she did it in third person (I dislike that tense!). I absolutely loved Matt and Abby together. I hate to say it, but I think I loved the relationship between Matt and Abby’s kids even more. My only teeny tiny complaint was that sometimes it seemed just a bit too insta-lovey for me. I can look past that, though, because I loved this book so much.

Review: Hard Pass (Sara Ney)

Hard Pass
Series: Trophy Boyfriends, #1
Author: Sara Ney
Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports, New Adult

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

“Hard pass.”
That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face. Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.

“Pay up.”
That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete–how hard can playing the love game be?

I feel like my 3.5 star rating doesn’t accurately portray the happy feeling this book gave me. It had some of the same vibe as The Learning Hours (my favorite book by Ney) did in many ways and was all sorts of fun. I loved the way Noah and Miranda met, and the drama that unfolded because of Noah’s insecurities. They way the clicked and their instant attraction/chemistry was so cute. I even loved Noah’s self-appointed,annoying best friend, Buzz. Hard Pass was just one of those books that made me smile the entire time I was reading it.

Why only 3.5 stars then, you ask? Well, I needed more. It felt like one date and then BAM! Everything goes down and is wrapped up so quickly. I thought there could have been a little bit more of a story there. Or maybe I just wanted longer so that it wasn’t completely instant love between Noah and Miranda.

No matter what, it was still an adorable read. Almost had the feel of a mixture between the Douchebag series and the Jock Row series. I loved that. I hope the rest of the series is as cute!

Series Review: Love (Jillian Dodd)

Vegas Love
Series: Love, #1
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publication Date: November 2, 2015
Publisher: Jillian Dodd, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A sexy celebrity stand alone romance by USA Today bestselling author, Jillian Dodd.
Hollywood actress, Ashlyn Roberts, just had the worst week of her life. Her ex released a sex tape of them and just when she was convinced her current boyfriend was a keeper for standing by her side, he breaks up with her at a friend’s wedding. She’s planning to drown her sorrows in booze when she meets a sexy stranger as she’s leaving the wedding and they end up in Vegas, married.

Cash Crawford is offered a dream job working with his brother as a junior talent agent. He’ll put his shiny new law degree to good use and make a bunch of money in the process. His first task is simple: Keep Ashlyn Roberts out of trouble and don’t sleep with her.
Which might be kind of tough, since they definitely consummated their Vegas wedding.

Will this one night stand end in the quickie divorce they promised each other? Or will they realize they got lucky in love.

My thoughts:

Vegas Love is a book that sat on my Kindle for years after I downloaded for free. I’m not sure why I never picked it up, but when I started the New-to-Me Author Summer Bingo challenge it fit perfectly for one of my bingo squares. I’m glad it did because I enjoyed it so much!

What did I love about it? Ashlyn and Cash were hilarious together. Their whole night in Vegas had me cracking up. They were perfect for each other from the moment they met. I also loved how sweet Cash was and how he took care of Ashlyn so many times. Cash’s family was so much fun, too. They added to all the sweetness of the story.

What didn’t I love? At times, I had a hard time equating Ashlyn to who Cade said she was. Some of her habits didn’t line up with what I thought based on her mother’s problems, but I guess everyone deals with things differently.

Overall, this was an entertaining romance that had me swooning and hurrying to download the next book from Kindle Unlimited.

Broken Love
Series: Love, #2
Author: Jillian Dodd
Publication Date: June 21, 2016
Publisher: Jillian Dodd, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Can you get a second chance at first love?

After years of crushing and many failed seduction attempts, Palmer Montlake had finally scored the sexy Cade Crawford. Both a little drunk when they got back to her place, they were frantic with need, their desire intense. But as the night progressed, the hot-mess hookup morphed to sweet lovemaking. The kind neither had ever experienced.

But they were destined for heartbreak. She was his best friend’s little sister. He was her talent agent. And they were dating in secret. When they got into a wicked fight and broke up, all hell broke loose. The kind neither have recovered from.

Six years later, they still hate each other. But the universe seems to keep throwing them together. When they catch the bouquet and garter at a mutual friend’s wedding, sparks fly between them — their chemistry undeniable.

Will they get a second chance? Or will they be left with a broken love?

The Love Series is a series of standalone novels featuring a different sexy Crawford sibling. They can be read by themselves. However, if you do wish to read them all, they are best enjoyed in order.

My thoughts:

This second book was cute. I’m not normally one for flashbacks, but the ones in here helped give the story of the first time Palmer and Cade were together so I didn’t really mind them. It actually helped solidify their current relationship, which would have felt very insta-lovey without them. I loved both the characters and couldn’t wait from them to get everything worked out. Palmer and Cade’s second chance at romance was fun and sweet read.

Overall, Love was a fun series. I will be reading more of Jillian Dodd’s books in the future. I do have one question, though. Does anyone know if Fake Love (Love, #3) will ever be released? I saw it on Goodreads, but couldn’t find any information about it. I would love to read it!

Mini Reviews: Loud Mouth & Jilted Jock

Today, I have reviews for two recently released sports romances for you.

Loud Mouth
Series: Ice Knights, #3
Author: Avery Flynn
Publication Date: June 22, 2020
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

I never meant to say a word, not one single word.

But I did.

And now, because of my blog, everyone knows that Ice Knights hockey star Ian Petrov’s best friend and fellow player is actually his half brother—hello, hockey Hall of Famer dad who couldn’t keep his jeans zipped.

That wouldn’t be such a big deal if Ian knew. He didn’t, and boy howdy is he pissed. And who is he most mad at? Oh sure, he’s upset with his dad and former best friend/brother from another mother, but most of his ire is with me. It’s definitely a case of hating the messenger.

And what could make it worse? How about the two of us being trapped together in a remote cabin after a massive blizzard. Neither of us can leave. Just us, the snow, his resentment, and OMG sexual tension so thick it would take a snowplow to break through it.

I’ve got to get out of here before I do something even dumber than I’ve already done and kiss the sexy, snarly grump with his misplaced anger and perfect pecs. That would be the worst, the absolute worst. That’s why I’m not going to do it. Nope. Really. So why can’t I stop imagining what it would be like?

My thoughts:

Want a break from all the stress of the world around you? Loud Mouth has you covered. This light, slightly steamy read was nothing but fun. If you have read the first two books, I would say it’s just as good as Parental Guidance, but not quite as good as AWK-WEIRD (That one is my shining star in this series.). I really enjoyed how easy Shelby and Ian’s book felt, despite some of the deeper issues it delved into. It’s one of those books that would be perfect for the beach or just chilling at home.

Jilted Jock
Series: A Cocky Hero Club Novel
Author: Rebecca Jenshak
Publication Date: June 28, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

He was someone who belonged on the cover of Sports Illustrated instead of in my small beach town.

A sexy, cocky Australian soccer star named Finn was the last person I expected to be living with for two weeks.

He showed up at my brother’s house on his wedding night, hot, drunk, and very much not married. Next thing I knew, we were roommates, spending nights watching TV and getting to know one another.

Those two weeks turned into more than either of us bargained for.

He was fresh off a broken heart and I had a boyfriend.

I wasn’t supposed to fall for the jilted jock, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except he’s not letting me go without a fight.

My thoughts:

Rebecca Jenshak has become one of my new favorite authors this year. I love her sports romance novels, and was excited that this book was related to Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard.

Jilted Jock was a fun read. I fell in love with it from the very beginning. It was kind of a love triangle, but not really one. Normally, I would steer clear of it because of that, but it was pretty apparent the direction it was going from the beginning so no worries if that concerns you. Adele and Finn had an instant connection. I love how they became friends and then… Well, you have to read it find out what happens.

The only thing that didn’t 100% work for me in this book was that the first part of this book was in Adele’s POV of view. Then, it switches to Finn. I loved getting both of their perspectives, but I kind of missed Adele’s when I didn’t have it. I really wanted to know what was going on in her head, but I guess that was the surprise of it. I can’t really complain to much about it.